Efficient CORESET configuration

ABSTRACT

A network node determines a first transmission parameter for transmission of downlink control channel scheduling the downlink control information provided to a wireless device in a first signal, and selects either the first transmission parameter or one or more different second transmission parameters for transmission of the downlink control channel scheduling for the downlink control information provided to the wireless device in one or more second signals. To allow flexibility and efficient use of resources, the first signal sent by the base station indicates the one or more second transmission parameters as well as the selected transmission parameter(s) for the second signals. In one exemplary embodiment, the first and second transmission parameters comprise first and second control resource set (CORESET) configurations. In another exemplary embodiment, the first and second transmission parameters comprise first and second search spaces.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The solution presented herein generally relates to control channeltransmissions, and more particularly relates to search spaceconfigurations for such control channel transmissions.

BACKGROUND

In wireless communication systems, a base station provides controlsignaling to one or more wireless devices to identify/allocate resourcesavailable for communications between the base station and the wirelessdevice. In some systems, the base station provides such controlinformation in defined/scheduled downlink control channels. For example,in New Radio (NR), the base station may configure a search space and/ora control resource set (CORESET) that define time and frequencyresources for downlink control information included in signaling fromthe base station. The wireless devices then monitor the configuredsearch spaces and/or CORESETs for signals to be received from the basestation.

In a baseline, the base station sets the same CORESET configuration forall types of downlink control information, e.g., Remaining MinimumSystem Information (RMSI), paging information, Other System Information(OSI), and/or Random Access Response (RAR) information. However, doingso imposes significant constraints in systems with special SystemInformation (SI) and/or paging coverage requirements. Further, requiringadditional CORESET configurations for some types of downlink controlinformation, e.g., RAR information, that may or may not be separate anddifferent from the CORESET configuration for, e.g., the RMSI, wastesbroadcasts resources. Thus, there remains a need for improved searchspace and/or CORESET configurations

SUMMARY

The solution presented herein determines a first transmission parameterfor monitoring downlink control channel scheduling for downlink controlinformation provided to a wireless device in a first signal and selectseither the first transmission parameter or one or more different secondtransmission parameters for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for downlink control information provided to the wirelessdevice in one or more second signals. To allow flexibility and efficientuse of resources, the first signal sent by the base station indicatesthe one or more second transmission parameters as well as the selectedtransmission parameter(s) for the second signals. In one exemplaryembodiment, the first transmission parameter comprises a first controlresource set (CORESET) configuration, and at least one of the secondtransmission parameter(s) comprises a second CORESET configuration. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the first transmission parameter comprisesa first search space configuration, and at least one of the secondtransmission parameter(s) comprises a second search space configuration.As used herein, a CORESET is associated with a search space, and viceversa.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a method performed by a wirelessdevice for receiving signals transmitted to the wireless device by anetwork node. The method comprises receiving a first signal using atleast one receiver configured according to a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources for monitoringdownlink control channel scheduling for downlink control informationincluded in the first signal. The first signal comprises one or moresecond transmission parameters and a configuration indication. The oneor more second transmission parameters, which are each different fromthe first transmission parameter, each define different second timeand/or frequency resources for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for the downlink control information included in one or moresecond signals. The configuration indication indicates a selection, bythe network node, of the first transmission parameter or the one or moresecond transmission parameters for each of the one or more secondsignals. The method further comprises configuring at least one receiverin the wireless device for receiving each of the one or more secondsignals according to the first transmission parameter or the one or moresecond transmission parameters responsive to the configurationindication, and receiving the one or more second signals using the atleast one receiver configured responsive to the configurationindication.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a wireless device configured toreceive signals from a network node. The wireless device comprises oneor more processing circuits configured to receive a first signal usingat least one receiver configured according to a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources for monitoringdownlink control channel scheduling for downlink control informationincluded in the first signal. The first signal comprises one or moresecond transmission parameters and a configuration indication. The oneor more second transmission parameters, which are each different fromthe first transmission parameter, each define different second timeand/or frequency resources for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for the downlink control information included in one or moresecond signals. The configuration indication indicates a selection, bythe network node, of the first transmission parameter or the one or moresecond transmission parameters for each of the one or more secondsignals. The one or more processing circuits are further configured toconfigure at least one receiver in the wireless device for receivingeach of the one or more second signals according to the firsttransmission parameter or the one or more second transmission parametersresponsive to the configuration indication, and to receive the one ormore second signals using the at least one receiver configuredresponsive to the configuration indication.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a wireless device configured toreceive signals from a network node. The wireless device comprises areceiver unit/circuit/module and a configuration unit/circuit/module.The receiver unit/circuit/module is configured to receive a first signalaccording to a first transmission parameter defining first time and/orfrequency resources for monitoring downlink control channel schedulingfor downlink control information included in the first signal. The firstsignal comprises one or more second transmission parameters and aconfiguration indication. The one or more second transmissionparameters, which are each different from the first transmissionparameter, each define different second time and/or frequency resourcesfor monitoring downlink control channel scheduling for the downlinkcontrol information included in one or more second signals. Theconfiguration indication indicates a selection, by the network node, ofthe first transmission parameter or the one or more second transmissionparameters for each of the one or more second signals. The configurationunit/circuit/module is configured to configure at least one receiver inthe wireless device for receiving each of the one or more second signalsaccording to the first transmission parameter or the one or more secondtransmission parameters responsive to the configuration indication. Thereceiver unit/circuit/module, as configured responsive to theconfiguration indication, receives the one or more second signals. Insome embodiments, the wireless device includes an optional extractionunit/circuit/module configured to extract the one or more secondtransmission parameters and the configuration indication from the firstsignal.

One embodiment comprises a computer program product for controlling awireless device. The computer program product comprises softwareinstructions which, when run on processing circuitry in the wirelessdevice, cause the wireless device to receive a first signal using atleast one receiver configured according to a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources for monitoringdownlink control channel scheduling for downlink control informationincluded in the first signal. The first signal comprises one or moresecond transmission parameters and a configuration indication. The oneor more second transmission parameters, which are each different fromthe first transmission parameter, each define different second timeand/or frequency resources for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for the downlink control information included in one or moresecond signals. The configuration indication indicates a selection, bythe network node, of the first transmission parameter or the one or moresecond transmission parameters for each of the one or more secondsignals. The software instructions, when run on the processingcircuitry, further cause the wireless device to configure at least onereceiver in the wireless device for receiving each of the one or moresecond signals according to the first transmission parameter or the oneor more second transmission parameters responsive to the configurationindication, and to receive the one or more second signals using the atleast one receiver configured responsive to the configurationindication. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-readable mediumcomprises the computer program product. In one exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium comprises a non-transitory computer readablemedium.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a method performed by a network nodefor signal transmission to a wireless device. The method comprisesdetermining a first transmission parameter defining first time and/orfrequency resources for transmission of downlink control channelscheduling the downlink control information in a first signal. Themethod further comprises selecting, for each of one or more secondsignals, the first transmission parameter or one or more secondtransmission parameters, each different from the first transmissionparameter. The one or more second transmission parameters definedifferent second time and/or frequency resources for transmission of thedownlink control channel scheduling the downlink control information inthe one or more second signals. The method further comprisestransmitting the first signal to the wireless device according to thefirst transmission parameter. The first signal comprises the one or moresecond transmission parameters and a configuration indication indicatingthe selected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals. The method further comprises transmitting the one or moresecond signals to the wireless device according to the correspondingselected transmission parameter.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a network node configured to transmitsignals to a wireless device. The network node comprises one or moreprocessing circuits configured to determine a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources fortransmission of downlink control channel scheduling the downlink controlinformation in a first signal. The one or more processing circuits arefurther configured to select, for each of one or more second signals,the first transmission parameter or one or more second transmissionparameters, each different from the first transmission parameter. Theone or more second transmission parameters define different second timeand/or frequency resources for transmission of the downlink controlchannel scheduling the downlink control information in the one or moresecond signals. The one or more processing circuits are furtherconfigured to transmit the first signal to the wireless device accordingto the first transmission parameter. The first signal comprises the oneor more second transmission parameters and a configuration indicationindicating the selected transmission parameter for each of the one ormore second signals. The one or more processing circuits are furtherconfigured to transmit the one or more second signals to the wirelessdevice according to the corresponding selected transmission parameter.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a network node configured to transmitsignals to a wireless device. The network node comprises a configurationunit/circuit/module, a selection unit/circuit/module, and a transmissionunit/circuit/module. The configuration unit/circuit/module is configuredto determine a first transmission parameter defining first time and/orfrequency resources for transmission of downlink control channelscheduling the downlink control information in a first signal. Theselection unit/circuit/module is configured to select, for each of oneor more second signals, the first transmission parameter or one or moresecond transmission parameters, each different from the firsttransmission parameter. The one or more second transmission parametersdefine different second time and/or frequency resources for transmissionof the downlink control channel scheduling the downlink controlinformation in the one or more second signals. The transmissionunit/circuit/module is configured to transmit the first signal to thewireless device according to the first transmission parameter. The firstsignal comprises the one or more second transmission parameters and aconfiguration indication indicating the selected transmission parameterfor each of the one or more second signals. The transmissionunit/circuit/module is further configured to transmit the one or moresecond signals to the wireless device according to the correspondingselected transmission parameter.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a computer program product forcontrolling a network node configured to transmit signals to a wirelessdevice. The computer program product comprises software instructionswhich, when run on processing circuitry in the network node, causes thenetwork node to determine a first transmission parameter defining firsttime and/or frequency resources for transmission of downlink controlchannel scheduling the downlink control information in a first signal.The software instructions, when run on the processing circuitry, furthercause the network node to select, for each of one or more secondsignals, the first transmission parameter or one or more secondtransmission parameters, each different from the first transmissionparameter. The one or more second transmission parameters definedifferent second time and/or frequency resources for transmission of thedownlink control channel scheduling the downlink control information inthe one or more second signals. The software instructions, when run onthe processing circuitry, further cause the network node to transmit thefirst signal to the wireless device according to the first transmissionparameter. The first signal comprises the one or more secondtransmission parameters and a configuration indication indicating theselected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals. The software instructions, when run on the processingcircuitry, further cause the network node to transmit the one or moresecond signals to the wireless device according to the correspondingselected transmission parameter. In one exemplary embodiment, acomputer-readable medium comprises the computer program product. In oneexemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium comprises anon-transitory computer readable medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows exemplary CORESET configuration.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary deployment associated with an RMSI TTI.

FIG. 3 shows a method of search space configuration and signaltransmission according to exemplary embodiments of the solutionpresented herein.

FIG. 4 shows a method of receiving signals and determining search spaceconfigurations according to exemplary embodiments of the solutionpresented herein.

FIG. 5 shows a wireless device according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a wireless device according to another exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a network node according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a network node according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the solution presented herein.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary wireless network applicable to the solutionpresented herein.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary UE applicable to the solution presentedherein.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary virtualization environment applicable to thesolution presented herein.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary telecommunications network applicable to thesolution presented herein.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary host computer applicable to the solutionpresented herein.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary method implemented in a communication systemin accordance with embodiments of the solution presented herein.

FIG. 16 shows another exemplary method implemented in a communicationsystem in accordance with embodiments of the solution presented herein.

FIG. 17 shows another exemplary method implemented in a communicationsystem in accordance with embodiments of the solution presented herein.

FIG. 18 shows another exemplary method implemented in a communicationsystem in accordance with embodiments of the solution presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The solution presented herein determines a first transmission parameter(e.g., a control resource set (CORESET) or a search space) formonitoring downlink control channel scheduling for downlink controlinformation provided to a wireless device in a first signal and selectseither the first transmission parameter or one or more differenttransmission parameters for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for downlink control information provided to the wirelessdevice in one or more second signals. To allow flexibility and efficientuse of resources, the first signal sent by the base station indicatesthe selected transmission parameters for the second signals. Beforeproviding further details of the solution presented herein, thefollowing first provides general information regarding wireless systemswith respect to downlink control information.

In general, a signaling numerology refers to the combination ofSub-Carrier Spacing (SCS), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing(OFDM) symbol length, Cyclic Prefix (CP) length, etc., used for signaltransmissions. In 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio(NR), multiple numerologies (e.g., for SCS=15*2^(n) kHz for n=0 . . . 5)have been defined, each with associated additional signal parameters.The 2^(n) construction indicated above allows simultaneous transmissionof signals with different SCS in the same carrier during the same OFDMsymbol. In some deployments, different NR signals may use differentnumerologies to ensure appropriate tradeoff between coverage (e.g.,lower SCSs are more robust to dispersion and allow better coverage) anddata capacity (e.g., higher SCSs are more robust to, e.g., phase noise).

A UE monitors for downlink (DL) control signaling responsive to atransmission parameter that defines the time and/or frequency resourcesfor transmission of DL control channel scheduling the downlink controlinformation. One example of a transmission parameter is a controlresource set (CORESET). A CORESET defines the size of a set ofcontiguous or non-contiguous Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) in thefrequency domain, and one or multiple OFDM symbols in the time domain. APhysical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is confined to one CORESET.While the solution presented herein is largely described in terms ofCORESETs, it will be appreciated that the solution presented hereinapplies to other transmission parameters, including but not limited to,search spaces. It will be appreciated that search spaces are associatedwith CORESETs, and vice versa.

A wireless device, also referred to herein as a User Equipment (UE),monitors for the PDCCH in one or more search spaces. Each search spaceis associated with a CORESET, which is defined as a set of PRBs in thefrequency domain and a set of OFDM symbols in the time domain. Forexample:

-   -   Single-symbol CORESET: frequency first mapping, interleaved or        non-interleaved mapping    -   Multi-symbol CORESET: time first mapping, interleaved or        non-interleaved mapping

In some systems, for slot-based scheduling, the first DeModulationReference Signal (DMRS) position, which is either on the 3^(rd) symbolor the 4^(th) symbol, is configured by a broadcast channel, e.g., aPhysical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The maximum time duration of aCORESET is two symbols if the first DMRS position of a Physical DownlinkShared Channel (PDSCH) with slot-based scheduling is on the 3^(rd)symbol, and is three symbols otherwise. The set of PRBs may benoncontiguous. Multiple CORESETs can be overlapped in frequency and timefor a UE.

A CORESET defines the time/frequency (T/F) size where a downlink (DL)control channel (e.g., PDCCH) is confined. Different CORESETs may beconfigured for transmitting different types of DL control information(associated with different types of search spaces) or for meeting therequirements of different 5G use cases (e.g., shorter time duration toreduce latency). See, e.g., FIG. 1, which shows exemplary locations ofPDCCH transmissions (multiple locations/allocations are also possible)associated with a specified CORESET. Within a CORESET, multiple PDCCHresource candidates with each formed by a set of CCEs can be configured.This is configured by the RRC parameters in the associated search spaceconfiguration Information Element (IE). In addition, the associatedsearch space IE also configures the parameters including PDCCHmonitoring occasions, monitoring periodicity, monitoring duration, etc.,to indicate to the UE how and where to search for the PDCCH.

The CORESET could be indicated, e.g., for Remaining Minimum SystemInformation (RMSI), via a 3-bit configuration, i.e., one of sevenpossible locations or location sets, where the index 0 indicates noRMSI. In NR, the CORESET for Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI)is indicated via four bits in the Master Information Block together withpreconfigured mapping tables. The base station thus indicates the numberof symbols in time and the number of RBs in frequency for the CORESET ofthe search space for the NR-PDCCH (New Radio-Physical Downlink ControlChannel) carrying RMSI. In addition, another four bits in the MIB isused for indicating the PDCCH monitoring occasions. The CORESETconfiguration together with PDCCH monitoring occasion and otherparameters configured for the associated search space provide theguidance to the UE where it should search for the NR-PDCCH schedulingRMSI (referred to as SIB1 in the standard).

For a (common) CORESET for PDCCH scheduling physical downlink sharedchannel (PDSCH) containing paging, at least the following is configured:

-   -   Time-domain resources (Time duration);    -   Frequency-domain resources, confined within NR UE minimum DL        bandwidth (BW) or initial active DL BW for a given frequency        band; and    -   Resource Element Group (REG) bundle size, interleaved or        non-interleaved (Control Channel Element (CCE) to REG mapping).        Frequency-domain resources may or may not be contiguous. Each        contiguous part of a CORESET is equal to or more than the size        of a REG-bundle in frequency.

In NR, system access identification is performed by the UE by firstreceiving a Synchronization Signal (SS) block containing a primary SS(PSS) and a secondary SS (SSS) encoding the cell identifier (ID), e.g.,physical cell id (PCI), and a PBCH containing MIB information. The MIBcontains critical System Information (SI) and a CORESET pointer to thelocation of the Remaining Minimum SI (RMSI). The PBCH also informs theUE about the RMSI numerology. FIG. 2 shows an example of aSynchronization Signal Block (SSB) and RMSI transmission. In thisexample, the UE receives at least one SS Block and at least oneredundancy version (RV) of the NR-PDSCH every 20 ms, while theTransmission Time Interval (TTI) of the RMSI is, e.g., 80 ms.

The NR-PDSCH carrying the RMSI will have a variable payload and will bescheduled using the NR-PDCCH. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH)carrying the MIB (see Table 1) contains an 8-bit field for RMSIconfiguration, were the CORESET configuration takes up four bits, andindicates the size of the time and frequency resources used for theNR-PDCCH. This allows for providing some assistance for the UE regardingwhere the UE should search for the NR-PDCCH that will schedule the RMSI(NR-SIB1).

TABLE 1 Information Number of bits Comment RMSI Configuration 8Subcarrier Spacing 1 0: 15 kHz (FR1) (of RMSI, Msg. 2/4 for or 60 kHz(FR2) initial access and 1: 30 kHz (FR1) broadcasted OSI) or 120 kHz(FR2) System Frame Number 10 (SFN) SS block time index 3 Reserved forbelow 6 GHz Half frame indication 1 Also known from DMRS when L = 4“CellBarred?flag” 1 Reserved RAN2 1 1^(st) PDSCH 1 3^(rd) or 4^(th)symbol DMRS position PRB grid offset 4 Reserved bits 1 Cyclic Redundancy24 Check (CRC) Total including CRC 56

Paging is used to alert one or more UEs in inactive/idle mode to contactthe network, e.g., for data reception, for emergency messagedistribution, for indicating SI updates, etc. In NR, paging includespaging DCI transmission (in PDCCH) followed by a paging message (inPDSCH). The UE is configured to periodically check for paging messages,according to a DRX and paging occasion (PO) schedule provided by thenetwork (NW). It is given a CORESET to monitor for paging DownlinkControl Information (DCI) transmissions in the PDCCH. For some NRnetworks, the numerology and/or CORESET for paging PDCCH may be the sameas for RMSI, or provided in System Information Block 1 (SIB1) in theRMSI.

Random Access Response (RAR) transmission refers to transmitting a DLresponse to a Physical Random Access CHannel (PRACH) preamble receivedin the Uplink (UL). The RAR is transmitted as a PDSCH scheduled by aPDCCH with a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI).The UE monitors the PDCCH candidates scheduling RAR in the associatedsearch space (i.e., type1-PDCCH common search space) during a RARreception window. This search space is defined by, among otherparameters, a CORESET configuration, monitoring occasions, monitoringperiodicity, etc. The window starts a predetermined time gap after PRACHtransmission, and has a predetermined duration known to the UE. As withpaging, the numerology and/or CORESET for the RAR PDCCH may be the sameas for the RMSI, or provided in SIB1 in the RMSI.

Other SI (OSI) is additional system information transmitted on demand bythe NW. The network node transmits the OSI as a Physical Downlink SharedChannel (PDSCH) scheduled by a PDCCH with a dedicated RNTI. As withpaging, the numerology and/or CORESET for the OSI PDCCH may be the sameas for the RMSI, or provided in SIB1 in the RMSI.

There currently exist certain challenge(s). For example, forcing allother access signals' CORESET configuration parameters to be same as forthe RMSI transmission imposes significant constraints in advanceddeployments with special SI and paging coverage requirements. In somecases, such restrictions may limit the ability of operators to maximizetheir network capacity or cost efficiency for data transmissions becauseof SI or paging coverage or capacity limits. In other cases, requiringseparate additional CORESET configuration parameters to be transmittedin the SIB1 for all other access signals results in the duplication ofinformation and the wasting of expensive broadcast resources in manycommon deployments where the RMSI and other transmissions share the sameresources. There is thus a need for configuring transmission parametersfor different system information that avoids unnecessary broadcastingoperations while supporting flexible access and paging signaltransmission in advanced network deployments.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments mayprovide solutions to these or other challenges.

The network transmits at least one CORESET configuration, to be used forscheduling the transmission of RMSI/SIB1 associated with a given SSB inPBCH/MIB. It may further transmit a second CORESET configuration, to beused for receiving one or more additional signals (e.g., access-relatedsignals like RAR, OSI, paging, etc.), in RMSI/SIB1. The network alsotransmits, in the RMSI/SIB1, one or more CORESET indicators or other bitsets, where the one or more CORESET indicators in some embodiments are,e.g., flag bits, where each flag bit indicates whether the respectivesignal will be transmitted using the first or the second CORESET.

A corresponding UE reads the CORESET flag bits in the RMSI for eachrelevant additional signal, and configures the receiver for that signalto use the first or second CORESET configuration for the additionalsignal(s). It will be appreciated that while the solution presentedherein is described in terms of a CORESET configuration for the RMSI,and a different CORESET configuration optionally available for theadditional signals, the solution presented herein applies equally wellto the more general idea of selectively using different transmissionparameters for receiving different types of DL control information. Insome embodiments, the transmission parameter may comprise a CORESET,while in other embodiments, the transmission parameter may moregenerally comprise a search space. In all embodiments, the transmissionparameter defines time and/or frequency resources for a UE to monitor aPDCCH carrying DL control channel information.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a method, implemented by a cellularnetwork node, for second signal transmission. The method comprisesdetermining a first configuration for a transmission parameter forsystem information (e.g., RMSI) signal transmission, and signaling theconfiguration in an information block (e.g., a MIB). The method furthercomprises determining a second configuration for the transmissionparameter for one or more second signal transmissions, selecting whichof the one or more second signals use the first configuration and whichuse the second configuration, and encoding the selection in aconfiguration flag set. The method further comprises performing thesystem information transmission, including transmitting the secondconfiguration info and the configuration flag set info, and performingthe second signal transmission according to the above selectedconfigurations.

In some exemplary embodiments, the transmission parameter comprises acontrol resource set (CORESET).

One exemplary embodiment comprises a method, implemented by a UE, forsecond signal reception. The method comprises receiving a signal on abroadcast channel (e.g., PBCH), and obtaining, from the received signal(e.g., from an MIB), a first configuration for a transmission parameterfor system information (e.g., RMSI). The method further comprisesreceiving system information (e.g., RMSI) according to the firstconfiguration, and extracting from the received signal (e.g., from aSIB1) a second configuration for a transmission parameter and aconfiguration flag set for one or more second signal receptions. Themethod further comprises configuring receivers for the one or moresecond signals based on the first and second configurations and theconfiguration flag set, and receiving the one or more second signalsaccording to the corresponding configuration.

One exemplary embodiment provides CORESET configuration for RandomAccess. Via the PBCH, a UE obtains at least one CORESET configuration atleast for PDCCH scheduling RMSI associated with a given SS block. Theset of aggregation levels and candidates per aggregation level for PDCCHscheduling RMSI is specified in the specification. The indication of thesupport of aggregation level 16 in the cell is slated for further study.Also slated for further study is the set of search spaces for OSI,random access, and paging. Via RMSI, the UE can be configured with atleast one CORESET configuration at least for PDCCH for random access. Ifnot configured by RMSI, the CORESET configuration(s) for random accessis/are the one(s) configured by PBCH. Whether the CORESET configurationcan be configured outside of the initial active DL BWP is slated forfurther study. Via UE-specific signalling, the UE can be configured withone or more CORESET configuration(s) at least for PDCCH schedulingUE-specific data. Each CORESET configuration is associated with one ormore sets of search spaces. Also, each set of search spaces isassociated with one CORESET configuration.

Based on this embodiment, the following is noted:

-   -   The CORESET(s) for random access including        message2(RAR)/message3-retx/message4, can be configured by the        following two options:        -   Option 1: Use the same CORESET configuration as for RMSI            indicated in PBCH.        -   Option 2: The CORESET configuration(s) for random access is            configured by RMSI.    -   This embodiment does not preclude that different CORESETs are        configured separately for message2(RAR)/message3/message4.

With Option 1, the same CORESET configuration is shared for RMSI,message 2, message3-retx, and message 4, which simplifies the design. Onthe other hand, Option 2 provides better configuration flexibility. Insome case, the CORESET configured for RMSI may not be large enough tosupport multiple PDCCHs carrying RMSI/message 2/message 3-retx/message4. For instance, for the case of frequency multiplexed RMSI and SSB,where the time duration for the transmission of RMSI and the CORESET forPDCCH scheduling RMSI may consist of only four OFDM symbols, the RMSICORESET can be configured with a time duration less than four symbols.This RMSI CORESET might not be able to support multiplexing of differentPDCCHs carrying messages related to random access. However, to simplifythe system design, we propose that the same CORESET configuration isused for PDCCHs scheduling different random-access messages. Ifconfigured in RMSI, a single CORESET configuration is configured forrandom access scheduling message 2/message 3-retx/message 4. Note thatthe details of the CORESET configuration for random access, e.g., theset of aggregation levels and the candidates per aggregation level forPDCCH scheduling message 2/message 3-retx/message 4 can be decided inthe control channel session.

Another exemplary embodiment provides CORESET configuration for paging.The currently remaining options for paging CORESET are to use the sameparameters as indicated for RMSI in the PBCH or to specify them in theRMSI. There is a wide range of foreseeable NR deployments, includingco-existence needs with LTE in some cases and different coveragerequirements for different signals in the NR NW. Therefore, requiringthat paging transmission be limited to the same CORESET as the RMSI islikely to be limiting for efficient NW configuration in manydeployments. These paging signal parameters should therefore beseparately configurable in RMSI. However, to avoid duplicate CORESETinfo when it is unnecessary, it may be adopted as a default assumptionthat, in the absence of paging CORESET configuration info in the RMSI,the respective RMSI parameters apply.

In one option, the paging CORESET should be configurable in the RMSI. Inthe absence of paging CORESET configuration info in the RMSI, theCORESET parameters indicated for RMSI in PBCH apply. For a (common)CORESET for PDCCH scheduling PDSCH containing paging, at least thefollowing is configured:

-   -   Time and Frequency-domain resources, confined within NR UE        minimum DL BW or initial active DL BWP for a given frequency        band;    -   REG bundle size, interleaved or non-interleaved (CCE to REG        mapping); and    -   Monitoring periodicity, slot based or non-slot based.        In order to maintain a uniform approach to DCI handling in        different signaling contexts, NR paging should use the same        CORESET and DCI framework as e.g. RMSI and RAR signaling.

In another option, the paging CORESET configuration indicates theresource of the PDCCH that schedules the PDSCH carrying paging message,including at least the bandwidth (PRBs), frequency position and theCORESET duration and the relevant OFDM symbols. The details of themessage 2 CORESET configuration, e.g., the set of aggregation levels andthe candidates per aggregation level for PDCCH scheduling message 2 canbe decided in the control channel session.

The DCI search space for a given CORESET includes the set of possiblePDCCH CCE allocation and Aggregation Level (AL) options. To minimizesignaling, the search space definition for RMSI associated with itsCORESET may be reused for paging PDCCH search space.

In another option, the search space definition for paging PDCCHassociated with the paging CORESET is the same as the search spacedefinition for RMSI PDCCH associated with the RMSI CORESET.

Exemplary embodiments of the solution presented herein may provide oneor more of the following technical advantage(s). The solution presentedherein provides a CORESET configuration approach that only broadcastslimited CORESET configuration information while supporting individualconfiguration of CORESETs for a large number of additional signalstransmitted by the network. Further, the solution presented herein thusavoids unnecessary broadcasting operations while supporting flexiblenetwork configurations in various deployments.

FIG. 3 depicts a method 100 in accordance with particular embodiments.The method 100, which is implemented by a network node in the network,comprises determining a first transmission parameter defining first timeand/or frequency resources for transmission of downlink control channelscheduling the downlink control information in a first signal (block110). The method 100 further comprises selecting, for each of one ormore second signals, the first transmission parameter or one or moresecond transmission parameters, each different from the firsttransmission parameter (block 120). The one or more second transmissionparameters define different second time and/or frequency resources fortransmission of the downlink control channel scheduling the downlinkcontrol information in the one or more second signals. In someembodiments, the second transmission parameter(s) comprise a differentsecond transmission parameter for each different second signal (block122). In some embodiments, the second transmission parameter(s) comprisea different second transmission parameter for some of the second signals(block 124). In some embodiments, the second transmission parameter(s)comprise the same second transmission parameter for each second signal(block 126). The method 100 further comprises transmitting the firstsignal to the wireless device according to the first transmissionparameter (block 130). The first signal comprises the one or more secondtransmission parameters and a configuration indication indicating theselected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals. The method 100 further comprises transmitting the one or moresecond signals to the wireless device according to the correspondingselected transmission parameter (block 140).

FIG. 4 depicts a method 200 in accordance with other particularembodiments. The method 200, which is implemented by a wireless device,comprises receiving a first signal using at least one receiverconfigured according to a first transmission parameter defining firsttime and/or frequency resources for monitoring downlink control channelscheduling for downlink control information included in the first signal(block 210). The first signal comprises one or more second transmissionparameters and a configuration indication. The one or more secondtransmission parameters, which are each different from the firsttransmission parameter, each define different second time and/orfrequency resources for monitoring downlink control channel schedulingfor the downlink control information included in one or more secondsignals. The configuration indication indicates a selection, by thenetwork node, of the first transmission parameter or the one or moresecond transmission parameters for each of the one or more secondsignals. In some embodiments, the second transmission parameter(s)comprise a different second transmission parameter for each differentsecond signal (block 212). In some embodiments, the second transmissionparameter(s) comprise a different second transmission parameter for someof the second signals (block 214). In some embodiments, the secondtransmission parameter(s) comprise the same second transmissionparameter for each second signal (block 216). The method 200 furthercomprises configuring at least one receiver in the wireless device forreceiving each of the one or more second signals according to the firsttransmission parameter or the one or more second transmission parametersresponsive to the configuration indication (block 220), and receivingthe one or more second signals using the at least one receiverconfigured responsive to the configuration indication (block 230).

Note that the apparatuses referenced above may perform the methodsherein and any other processing by implementing any functional means,modules, units, or circuitry. In one embodiment, for example, theapparatuses comprise respective circuits or circuitry configured toperform the steps shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The circuits or circuitry inthis regard may comprise circuits dedicated to performing certainfunctional processing and/or one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith memory. For instance, the circuitry may include one or moremicroprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware,which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purposedigital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configuredto execute program code stored in memory, which may include one orseveral types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-accessmemory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices,etc. Program code stored in memory may include program instructions forexecuting one or more telecommunications and/or data communicationsprotocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of thetechniques described herein, in several embodiments. In embodiments thatemploy memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by theone or more processors, carries out the techniques described herein.

FIG. 5, for example, illustrates a wireless device 300 as implemented inaccordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the wireless device300 includes processing circuitry 310 and communication circuitry 320.The communication circuitry 320 (e.g., radio circuitry) is configured totransmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more othernodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication mayoccur via one or more antennas that are either internal or external tothe wireless device 300. The processing circuitry 310 is configured toperform processing described above (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4), such asby executing instructions stored in memory 330. The processing circuitry310 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units,circuits, or modules.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wireless device 400 ina wireless network according to still other embodiments (for example,the wireless network shown in FIG. 10). As shown, the wireless device400 implements various functional means, units, circuits, or modules,e.g., via the processing circuitry 310 in FIG. 5 and/or via softwarecode. These functional means, units, circuits, or modules, e.g., forimplementing the method(s) herein, include for instance: receiverunit/circuit/module 410, configuration unit/circuit/module 420, andoptional extraction unit/circuit/module 430. The receiverunit/circuit/module 410 is configured to receive a first signalaccording to a first transmission parameter defining first time and/orfrequency resources for monitoring downlink control channel schedulingfor downlink control information included in the first signal. The firstsignal comprises one or more second transmission parameters and aconfiguration indication. The one or more second transmissionparameters, which are each different from the first transmissionparameter, each define different second time and/or frequency resourcesfor monitoring downlink control channel scheduling for the downlinkcontrol information included in one or more second signals. Theconfiguration indication indicates a selection, by the network node, ofthe first transmission parameter or the one or more second transmissionparameters for each of the one or more second signals. The configurationunit/circuit/module 420 configures at least one receiver 410 in thewireless device 400 for receiving each of the one or more second signalsaccording to the first transmission parameter or the one or more secondtransmission parameters responsive to the configuration indication. Thereceiver unit/circuit/module 410, as configured responsive to theconfiguration indication, receives the one or more second signals. Insome embodiments, the wireless device 400 includes an optionalextraction unit/circuit/module 430 configured to extract the one or moresecond transmission parameters and the configuration indication from thefirst signal, e.g., for storage in memory (not shown).

FIG. 7 illustrates a network node 500 as implemented in accordance withone or more embodiments. As shown, the network node 500 includesprocessing circuitry 510 and communication circuitry 520. Thecommunication circuitry 520 is configured to transmit and/or receiveinformation to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via anycommunication technology. The processing circuitry 510 is configured toperform processing described above (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3), such asby executing instructions stored in memory 530. The processing circuitry510 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, ormodules.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a network node 600 in awireless network according to still other embodiments (for example, thewireless network shown in FIG. 10). As shown, the network node 600implements various functional means, units, circuits, or modules, e.g.,via the processing circuitry 510 in FIG. 7 and/or via software code.These functional means, units, circuits, or modules, e.g., forimplementing the method(s) herein, include for instance: a configurationunit/circuit/module 610, a selection unit/circuit/module 620, and atransmission unit/circuit/module 630. The configurationunit/circuit/module 610 is configured to determine a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources fortransmission of downlink control channel scheduling the downlink controlinformation in a first signal. The selection unit/circuit/module 620 isconfigured to select, for each of one or more second signals, the firsttransmission parameter or one or more second transmission parameters,each different from the first transmission parameter. The one or moresecond transmission parameters define different second time and/orfrequency resources for transmission of the downlink control channelscheduling the downlink control information in the one or more secondsignals. The transmission unit/circuit/module 630 is configured totransmit the first signal to the wireless device according to the firsttransmission parameter. The first signal comprises the one or moresecond transmission parameters and a configuration indication indicatingthe selected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals. The transmission unit/circuit/module is further configured totransmit the one or more second signals to the wireless device accordingto the corresponding selected transmission parameter.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments hereinfurther include corresponding computer programs.

A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on atleast one processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry outany of the respective processing described above. A computer program inthis regard may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to themeans or units described above.

Embodiments further include a carrier containing such a computerprogram. This carrier may comprise one of an electronic signal, opticalsignal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

In this regard, embodiments herein also include a computer programproduct stored on a non-transitory computer readable (storage orrecording) medium and comprising instructions that, when executed by aprocessor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform as describedabove.

Embodiments further include a computer program product comprisingprogram code portions for performing the steps of any of the embodimentsherein when the computer program product is executed by a computingdevice. This computer program product may be stored on a computerreadable recording medium.

Additional embodiments will now be described. At least some of theseembodiments may be described as applicable in certain contexts and/orwireless network types for illustrative purposes, but the embodimentsare similarly applicable in other contexts and/or wireless network typesnot explicitly described.

The flow of one exemplary embodiment of the solution presented herein,as implemented by the network node comprises the following. Referring tothe presented background, the term “transmission parameter” hereprimarily refers to the CORESET, but it could also refer to otherparameters like PDCCH search spaces, DCI formats, signal numerology,etc.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the network node determines anRMSI transmission parameter configuration. For example, an NR networknode may determine at least one CORESET configuration for scheduling anRMSI transmission. The choice may be based on, e.g., the network node(e.g., an RMSI CORESET with multiple search options offers increasedflexibility for scheduling RMSI without interfering with datatransmission), etc. The network node signals the RMSI transmissionparameter configuration in the MIB, e.g., according to existing 2GPPRANI standards. The network node further determines alternativetransmission parameter configurations, e.g., an additional CORESETconfiguration for additional signal transmission(s). The additionalsignals may be, e.g., RAR, OSI, paging, message3-rtx, message4, etc. Thechoice may be based on overall network load, access signalling load,latency requirements, the number of UEs in idle and inactive states andtheir paging signalling (e.g., an alternative CORESET that differs fromthe RMSI CORESET offers increased flexibility for paging and randomaccess scheduling), etc. The network node selects, for each of one ormore additional signals, whether the RMSI transmission parameterconfiguration or the alternative transmission parameter configurationwill be used. For example, the criteria in the configurationdetermination step may be applied to each corresponding additionalsignal. The network node further determines a transmission parameterconfiguration indicator, which in some embodiments comprises a flag set,in the RMSI/SIB1 based on the selected transmission parameterconfiguration modes. For example, the network node may create a CORESETindicator that includes one or more bits conveying the selecteddecision. The network node transmits the RMSI, including the alternativeconfiguration and the indicator, and transmits the one or moreadditional signals according to the selected transmission parameters.

In one exemplary embodiment, the indicator is a bitmap where each bitposition corresponds to the section for a predetermined signal. As anexample, a 0 in the first position may indicate that RAR PDCCH istransmitted according to the RMSI CORESET, and a 1 in that position mayindicate that the RAR PDCCH is transmitted according to the alternativeCORESET. The second position indicates the same for OSI selection, thethird for paging selection, etc.

In another exemplary embodiment, the indicator is encoded into one ofmultiple possible values that imply one of the bitmaps above. As anexample, value 00 may indicate that all additional signals use the RMSICORESET, value 01 that only RAR uses the alternative CORESET, value 10that only paging uses the alternative CORESET, and value 11 that alladditional signals use the alternative CORESET. It will be appreciatedthat other approaches for mapping the values to the CORESET selectionsfor the different functions (RAR, paging, OSI, etc.) may be used.

In another exemplary embodiment, the indicator includes only a singlebit, where the bit value indicates whether the alternative CORESET isused for all additional signals. For example, a 0 implies the CORESETfor scheduling RMSI is used for all additional signals, and a 1 impliesthat the alternative CORESET is used for all additional signals.

In one exemplary embodiment, if the network node does not select thealternative CORESET configuration for any of the additional signals, thenetwork node may omit the alternative CORESET configuration info, theCORESET indicator, or both. Such an omission represents, e.g., animplicit configuration indication.

The flow of one exemplary embodiment of the solution presented herein,as implemented by the network node comprises the following. The wirelessdevice receives the PBCH and obtains the RMSI transmission parameterconfiguration from the MIB by decoding the MIB information andextracting the RMSI transmission parameter information. The wirelessdevice then receives the RMSI according to the transmission parameterconfiguration, e.g., by configuring the receiver according to thetransmission parameter configuration and decoding the RMSI to obtain theSIB1 information. The wireless device extracts from the SIB2 thealternative transmission parameter configuration information and thetransmission parameter configuration indicator. For example, after thewireless device decodes the SIB1, the wireless device extracts thealternative CORESET configuration information and the CORESET indicator.For each additional signal represented in the indicator, the wirelessdevice configures the receiver to use the RMSI transmission parameterconfiguration or the alternative transmission parameter configurationbased on the flag bit values. For example, the wireless deviceconfigures the receiver to receive one or more additional signalsaccording to the indicator in the SIB1. For each bit position, thecorresponding additional signal is received using the RMSI CORESET orthe alternative CORESET, depending on the bit value (0 or 1) at thatposition. In one exemplary embodiment, if the indicator and/or thealternative CORESET configuration is not present, the wireless device isimplicitly instructed to apply the RMSI CORESET to all additional signalreception. The wireless device then receives the additional signalsaccording to the adopted configuration. It will be appreciated thatother forms of implicit configuration indications may also be used forthe solution presented herein.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the solution presented herein. The top partof FIG. 9 depicts the physical channels in which the CORESETconfigurations are provided. Starting with the SS Block, it includes aprimary synchronization signals (PSS), a secondary synchronizationsignal (SSS) and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The PBCH containsa master information block (MIB) which provides the UE with a firstCORESET used for receiving the remaining minimum system information(RMSI). Inside the CORESET defined in the PBCH, the UE will find aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) containing a downlink controlinformation (DCI) that schedules a physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH).

The minimum system information (SI) includes the system informationderived from the SS Block and the remaining minimum system information(RMSI) provided in system information block 1 (SIB1).

In some deployments the CORESET defined in the MIB is not sufficient foralso supporting some of the additional functions that are needed, e.g.,provisioning of paging messages, random access messages (MSG2,scheduling of MSG3, and MSG4), and provisioning of on-demand othersystem information (OSI, defined as all SI not part of the minimum SI).For that purpose, the SIB1 contains an information field where a secondCORESET is defined (note that this second CORESET configuration could beoptional, in which case the solution disclosed here only applies when itis actually defined). Assuming that a second CORESET (denotedCoresetConfig2) is configured in SIB1, we can now select which CORESETthat should be used for other functions. In the example embodiment wesee that the SIB1 contains of a Paging configuration, an OSIconfiguration, a RAR configuration, and a generic (yet to be defined)functionXconfiguration.

Each of these configurations comprises of a CORESET selectionconfiguration (denoted coreSetSelection). The value “coreSetSelection=1”would in this example embodiment denote that the “first” CORESET definedin the MIB is used for this function while the value“coreSetSelection=2” would denote that the “second” CORESET defined inSIB1 is used.

Note that the SIB1 may contain more than one CORESET definition and inthat case the “coreSetSelection” parameters would be extended with morealternatives.

In other embodiments, the relevant parameter may be called“controlResourceSetId” or “searchSpaceId.”

The disclosed techniques may be used to configure transmissionparameters other than the CORESET, e.g. PDCCH search spaces associatedwith the CORESET, signal numerology, etc.

The approach of the solution presented herein may be applied to signalsother than the mentioned access, SI, and paging signals. CORESETS orother parameters for other control signals, dedicated, and UE-specificsignals may also be indicated.

The terminology used herein has been aligned with 3GPP NR RANI-2agreements. However, the principles of the embodiments may be applicableto other RATs and cellular network implementations.

In some embodiments, the PBCH/MIB and/or RMSI/SIB1 can contain multipleCORESET definitions. In that case, the first and second CORESETconfigurations should be understood to contain all the CORESETsspecified in the MIB and SIB1 respectively.

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in anyappropriate type of system using any suitable components, theembodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wirelessnetwork, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIG. 10.For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 10 only depicts network2106, network nodes 2160 and 2160 b, and WDs 2110, 2110 b, and 2110 c.In practice, a wireless network may further include any additionalelements suitable to support communication between wireless devices orbetween a wireless device and another communication device, such as alandline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or enddevice. Of the illustrated components, network node 2160 and wirelessdevice (WD) 2110 are depicted with additional detail. The wirelessnetwork may provide communication and other types of services to one ormore wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices' access toand/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type ofcommunication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio networkor other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wirelessnetwork may be configured to operate according to specific standards orother types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particularembodiments of the wireless network may implement communicationstandards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution(LTE), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), and/or other suitable 2G,3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards,such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wirelesscommunication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network 2106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks,IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet datanetworks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local areanetworks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks,wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks toenable communication between devices.

Network node 2160 and WD 2110 comprise various components described inmore detail below. These components work together in order to providenetwork node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providingwireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments,the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wirelessnetworks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices,relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that mayfacilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signalswhether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured,arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with awireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in thewireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to thewireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration)in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are notlimited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), basestations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs(eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based onthe amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, theirtransmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto basestations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro basestations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor nodecontrolling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (orall) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralizeddigital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to asRemote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not beintegrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of adistributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in adistributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodesinclude multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, networkcontrollers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base stationcontrollers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities(MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SONnodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As anotherexample, a network node may be a virtual network node as described inmore detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may representany suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged,and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with accessto the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless devicethat has accessed the wireless network.

In FIG. 10, network node 2160 includes processing circuitry 2170, devicereadable medium 2180, interface 2190, auxiliary equipment 2184, powersource 2186, power circuitry 2187, and antenna 2162. Although networknode 2160 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIG. 10 mayrepresent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardwarecomponents, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with differentcombinations of components. It is to be understood that a network nodecomprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed toperform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein.Moreover, while the components of network node 2160 are depicted assingle boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multipleboxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple differentphysical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g.,device readable medium 2180 may comprise multiple separate hard drivesas well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node 2160 may be composed of multiple physicallyseparate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or aBTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their ownrespective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 2160comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components),one or more of the separate components may be shared among severalnetwork nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. Insuch a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instancesbe considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments,network node 2160 may be configured to support multiple radio accesstechnologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may beduplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 2180 for the differentRATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna 2162 maybe shared by the RATs). Network node 2160 may also include multiple setsof the various illustrated components for different wirelesstechnologies integrated into network node 2160, such as, for example,GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. Thesewireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chipor set of chips and other components within network node 2160.

Processing circuitry 2170 is configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being provided by a network node. These operationsperformed by processing circuitry 2170 may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 2170 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedin the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based onthe obtained information or converted information, and as a result ofsaid processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry 2170 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other networknode 2160 components, such as device readable medium 2180, network node2160 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 2170 may executeinstructions stored in device readable medium 2180 or in memory withinprocessing circuitry 2170. Such functionality may include providing anyof the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussedherein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 2170 may include asystem on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry 2170 may include one or moreof radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 2172 and basebandprocessing circuitry 2174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF)transceiver circuitry 2172 and baseband processing circuitry 2174 may beon separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radiounits and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RFtransceiver circuitry 2172 and baseband processing circuitry 2174 may beon the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or othersuch network device may be performed by processing circuitry 2170executing instructions stored on device readable medium 2180 or memorywithin processing circuitry 2170. In alternative embodiments, some orall of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 2170without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete devicereadable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of thoseembodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readablestorage medium or not, processing circuitry 2170 can be configured toperform the described functionality. The benefits provided by suchfunctionality are not limited to processing circuitry 2170 alone or toother components of network node 2160, but are enjoyed by network node2160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium 2180 may comprise any form of volatile ornon-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation,persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory,magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removablestorage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or aDigital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devicesthat store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used byprocessing circuitry 2170. Device readable medium 2180 may store anysuitable instructions, data or information, including a computerprogram, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules,code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executedby processing circuitry 2170 and, utilized by network node 2160. Devicereadable medium 2180 may be used to store any calculations made byprocessing circuitry 2170 and/or any data received via interface 2190.In some embodiments, processing circuitry 2170 and device readablemedium 2180 may be considered to be integrated.

Interface 2190 is used in the wired or wireless communication ofsignalling and/or data between network node 2160, network 2106, and/orWDs 2110. As illustrated, interface 2190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s)2194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 2106 overa wired connection. Interface 2190 also includes radio front endcircuitry 2192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a partof, antenna 2162. Radio front end circuitry 2192 comprises filters 2198and amplifiers 2196. Radio front end circuitry 2192 may be connected toantenna 2162 and processing circuitry 2170. Radio front end circuitrymay be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 2162and processing circuitry 2170. Radio front end circuitry 2192 mayreceive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes orWDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 2192 mayconvert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriatechannel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 2198and/or amplifiers 2196. The radio signal may then be transmitted viaantenna 2162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 2162 may collectradio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio frontend circuitry 2192. The digital data may be passed to processingcircuitry 2170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprisedifferent components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 2160 may not includeseparate radio front end circuitry 2192, instead, processing circuitry2170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected toantenna 2162 without separate radio front end circuitry 2192. Similarly,in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 2172 may beconsidered a part of interface 2190. In still other embodiments,interface 2190 may include one or more ports or terminals 2194, radiofront end circuitry 2192, and RF transceiver circuitry 2172, as part ofa radio unit (not shown), and interface 2190 may communicate withbaseband processing circuitry 2174, which is part of a digital unit (notshown).

Antenna 2162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 2162 may becoupled to radio front end circuitry 2190 and may be any type of antennacapable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. Insome embodiments, antenna 2162 may comprise one or moreomni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receiveradio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. Anomni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signalsin any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radiosignals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna maybe a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in arelatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than oneantenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 2162may be separate from network node 2160 and may be connectable to networknode 2160 through an interface or port.

Antenna 2162, interface 2190, and/or processing circuitry 2170 may beconfigured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtainingoperations described herein as being performed by a network node. Anyinformation, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device,another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly,antenna 2162, interface 2190, and/or processing circuitry 2170 may beconfigured to perform any transmitting operations described herein asbeing performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signalsmay be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or anyother network equipment.

Power circuitry 2187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power managementcircuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node2160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Powercircuitry 2187 may receive power from power source 2186. Power source2186 and/or power circuitry 2187 may be configured to provide power tothe various components of network node 2160 in a form suitable for therespective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed foreach respective component). Power source 2186 may either be included in,or external to, power circuitry 2187 and/or network node 2160. Forexample, network node 2160 may be connectable to an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interfacesuch as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source suppliespower to power circuitry 2187. As a further example, power source 2186may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery packwhich is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 2187. Thebattery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also beused.

Alternative embodiments of network node 2160 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 10 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the network node's functionality, includingany of the functionality described herein and/or any functionalitynecessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example,network node 2160 may include user interface equipment to allow input ofinformation into network node 2160 and to allow output of informationfrom network node 2160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic,maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node2160.

As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable,configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly withnetwork nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, theterm WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE).Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receivingwireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infraredwaves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying informationthrough air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmitand/or receive information without direct human interaction. Forinstance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on apredetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event,or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include,but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, avoice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, agaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance,a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, atablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mountedequipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment(CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may supportdevice-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPPstandard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V),vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may inthis case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet anotherspecific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD mayrepresent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/ormeasurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/ormeasurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in thiscase be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP contextbe referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD maybe a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT)standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors,metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home orpersonal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personalwearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, aWD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable ofmonitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functionsassociated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent theendpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may bereferred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described abovemay be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobiledevice or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device 2110 includes antenna 2111, interface2114, processing circuitry 2120, device readable medium 2130, userinterface equipment 2132, auxiliary equipment 2134, power source 2136and power circuitry 2137. WD 2110 may include multiple sets of one ormore of the illustrated components for different wireless technologiessupported by WD 2110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi,WiMAX, NB-IoT, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention afew. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same ordifferent chips or set of chips as other components within WD 2110.

Antenna 2111 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected tointerface 2114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 2111 may beseparate from WD 2110 and be connectable to WD 2110 through an interfaceor port. Antenna 2111, interface 2114, and/or processing circuitry 2120may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operationsdescribed herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, dataand/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. Insome embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 2111 may beconsidered an interface.

As illustrated, interface 2114 comprises radio front end circuitry 2112and antenna 2111. Radio front end circuitry 2112 comprises one or morefilters 2118 and amplifiers 2116. Radio front end circuitry 2114 isconnected to antenna 2111 and processing circuitry 2120, and isconfigured to condition signals communicated between antenna 2111 andprocessing circuitry 2120. Radio front end circuitry 2112 may be coupledto or a part of antenna 2111. In some embodiments, WD 2110 may notinclude separate radio front end circuitry 2112; rather, processingcircuitry 2120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may beconnected to antenna 2111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or allof RF transceiver circuitry 2122 may be considered a part of interface2114. Radio front end circuitry 2112 may receive digital data that is tobe sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection.Radio front end circuitry 2112 may convert the digital data into a radiosignal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using acombination of filters 2118 and/or amplifiers 2116. The radio signal maythen be transmitted via antenna 2111. Similarly, when receiving data,antenna 2111 may collect radio signals which are then converted intodigital data by radio front end circuitry 2112. The digital data may bepassed to processing circuitry 2120. In other embodiments, the interfacemay comprise different components and/or different combinations ofcomponents.

Processing circuitry 2120 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 2110components, such as device readable medium 2130, WD 2110 functionality.Such functionality may include providing any of the various wirelessfeatures or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry2120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 2130 orin memory within processing circuitry 2120 to provide the functionalitydisclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry 2120 includes one or more of RFtransceiver circuitry 2122, baseband processing circuitry 2124, andapplication processing circuitry 2126. In other embodiments, theprocessing circuitry may comprise different components and/or differentcombinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry2120 of WD 2110 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceivercircuitry 2122, baseband processing circuitry 2124, and applicationprocessing circuitry 2126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. Inalternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry2124 and application processing circuitry 2126 may be combined into onechip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 2122 may be on aseparate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part orall of RF transceiver circuitry 2122 and baseband processing circuitry2124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processingcircuitry 2126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet otheralternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 2122,baseband processing circuitry 2124, and application processing circuitry2126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In someembodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 2122 may be a part of interface2114. RF transceiver circuitry 2122 may condition RF signals forprocessing circuitry 2120.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processingcircuitry 2120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium2130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storagemedium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality maybe provided by processing circuitry 2120 without executing instructionsstored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such asin a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whetherexecuting instructions stored on a device readable storage medium ornot, processing circuitry 2120 can be configured to perform thedescribed functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality arenot limited to processing circuitry 2120 alone or to other components ofWD 2110, but are enjoyed by WD 2110 as a whole, and/or by end users andthe wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry 2120 may be configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, asperformed by processing circuitry 2120, may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 2120 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedby WD 2110, and/or performing one or more operations based on theobtained information or converted information, and as a result of saidprocessing making a determination.

Device readable medium 2130 may be operable to store a computer program,software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code,tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed byprocessing circuitry 2120. Device readable medium 2130 may includecomputer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory(ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media(e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or anyother volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/orcomputer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/orinstructions that may be used by processing circuitry 2120. In someembodiments, processing circuitry 2120 and device readable medium 2130may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment 2132 may provide components that allow for ahuman user to interact with WD 2110. Such interaction may be of manyforms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment2132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the userto provide input to WD 2110. The type of interaction may vary dependingon the type of user interface equipment 2132 installed in WD 2110. Forexample, if WD 2110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touchscreen; if WD 2110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through ascreen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or aspeaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).User interface equipment 2132 may include input interfaces, devices andcircuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interfaceequipment 2132 is configured to allow input of information into WD 2110,and is connected to processing circuitry 2120 to allow processingcircuitry 2120 to process the input information. User interfaceequipment 2132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity orother sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USBport, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 2132 is alsoconfigured to allow output of information from WD 2110, and to allowprocessing circuitry 2120 to output information from WD 2110. Userinterface equipment 2132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display,vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other outputcircuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, andcircuits, of user interface equipment 2132, WD 2110 may communicate withend users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit fromthe functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment 2134 is operable to provide more specificfunctionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This maycomprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for variouspurposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wiredcommunications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliaryequipment 2134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source 2136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a batteryor battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or powercells, may also be used. WD 2110 may further comprise power circuitry2137 for delivering power from power source 2136 to the various parts ofWD 2110 which need power from power source 2136 to carry out anyfunctionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 2137 may incertain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry2137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power froman external power source; in which case WD 2110 may be connectable tothe external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via inputcircuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Powercircuitry 2137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliverpower from an external power source to power source 2136. This may be,for example, for the charging of power source 2136. Power circuitry 2137may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to thepower from power source 2136 to make the power suitable for therespective components of WD 2110 to which power is supplied.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with variousaspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may notnecessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/oroperates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device thatis intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which maynot, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific humanuser (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE mayrepresent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, anend user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit ofa user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 2200 may be any UE identified bythe 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, amachine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.UE 2200, as illustrated in FIG. 11, is one example of a WD configuredfor communication in accordance with one or more communication standardspromulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as3GPP's GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, theterm WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIG.11 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to aWD, and vice-versa.

In FIG. 11, UE 2200 includes processing circuitry 2201 that isoperatively coupled to input/output interface 2205, radio frequency (RF)interface 2209, network connection interface 2211, memory 2215 includingrandom access memory (RAM) 2217, read-only memory (ROM) 2219, andstorage medium 2221 or the like, communication subsystem 2231, powersource 2233, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof.Storage medium 2221 includes operating system 2223, application program2225, and data 2227. In other embodiments, storage medium 2221 mayinclude other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize allof the components shown in FIG. 11, or only a subset of the components.The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE toanother UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of acomponent, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers,transmitters, receivers, etc.

In FIG. 11, processing circuitry 2201 may be configured to processcomputer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 2201 may beconfigured to implement any sequential state machine operative toexecute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computerprograms in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented statemachines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logictogether with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program,general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combinationof the above. For example, the processing circuitry 2201 may include twocentral processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a formsuitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 2205 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to an input device,output device, or input and output device. UE 2200 may be configured touse an output device via input/output interface 2205. An output devicemay use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example,a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 2200. Theoutput device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, amonitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another outputdevice, or any combination thereof. UE 2200 may be configured to use aninput device via input/output interface 2205 to allow a user to captureinformation into UE 2200. The input device may include a touch-sensitiveor presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, adigital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, amouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, asmartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include acapacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. Asensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tiltsensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximitysensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example,the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digitalcamera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

In FIG. 11, RF interface 2209 may be configured to provide acommunication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, areceiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 2211 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to network 2243 a.Network 2243 a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as alocal-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network,a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like networkor any combination thereof. For example, network 2243 a may comprise aWi-Fi network. Network connection interface 2211 may be configured toinclude a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate withone or more other devices over a communication network according to oneor more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM,or the like. Network connection interface 2211 may implement receiverand transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication networklinks (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter andreceiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware,or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM 2217 may be configured to interface via bus 2202 to processingcircuitry 2201 to provide storage or caching of data or computerinstructions during the execution of software programs such as theoperating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 2219 maybe configured to provide computer instructions or data to processingcircuitry 2201. For example, ROM 2219 may be configured to storeinvariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions suchas basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokesfrom a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium2221 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmableread-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magneticdisks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, orflash drives. In one example, storage medium 2221 may be configured toinclude operating system 2223, application program 2225 such as a webbrowser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application,and data file 2227. Storage medium 2221 may store, for use by UE 2200,any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations ofoperating systems.

Storage medium 2221 may be configured to include a number of physicaldrive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppydisk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive,thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc(HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray opticaldisc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive,external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamicrandom access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcardmemory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity(SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storagemedium 2221 may allow UE 2200 to access computer-executableinstructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory ornon-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. Anarticle of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system maybe tangibly embodied in storage medium 2221, which may comprise a devicereadable medium.

In FIG. 11, processing circuitry 2201 may be configured to communicatewith network 2243 b using communication subsystem 2231. Network 2243 aand network 2243 b may be the same network or networks or differentnetwork or networks. Communication subsystem 2231 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 2243b. For example, communication subsystem 2231 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or moreremote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communicationsuch as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN)according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11,CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver mayinclude transmitter 2233 and/or receiver 2235 to implement transmitteror receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links(e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 2233and receiver 2235 of each transceiver may share circuit components,software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions ofcommunication subsystem 2231 may include data communication, voicecommunication, multimedia communication, short-range communications suchas Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communicationsuch as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine alocation, another like communication function, or any combinationthereof. For example, communication subsystem 2231 may include cellularcommunication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPScommunication. Network 2243 b may encompass wired and/or wirelessnetworks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN),a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network,another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network2243 b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-fieldnetwork. Power source 2213 may be configured to provide alternatingcurrent (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 2200.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may beimplemented in one of the components of UE 2200 or partitioned acrossmultiple components of UE 2200. Further, the features, benefits, and/orfunctions described herein may be implemented in any combination ofhardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem2231 may be configured to include any of the components describedherein. Further, processing circuitry 2201 may be configured tocommunicate with any of such components over bus 2202. In anotherexample, any of such components may be represented by programinstructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry2201 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In anotherexample, the functionality of any of such components may be partitionedbetween processing circuitry 2201 and communication subsystem 2231. Inanother example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any ofsuch components may be implemented in software or firmware and thecomputationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualizationenvironment 2300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments maybe virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creatingvirtual versions of apparatuses or devices, which may includevirtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices, and networkingresources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node(e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) orto a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type ofcommunication device) or components thereof and relates to animplementation in which at least a portion of the functionality isimplemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or moreapplications, components, functions, virtual machines or containersexecuting on one or more physical processing nodes in one or morenetworks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein maybe implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtualmachines implemented in one or more virtual environments 2300 hosted byone or more of hardware nodes 2330. Further, in embodiments in which thevirtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radioconnectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may beentirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 2320 (whichmay alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances,network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.)operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefitsof some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 2320 are runin virtualization environment 2300 which provides hardware 2330comprising processing circuitry 2360 and memory 2390. Memory 2390contains instructions 2395 executable by processing circuitry 2360whereby application 2320 is operative to provide one or more of thefeatures, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment 2300, comprises general-purpose orspecial-purpose network hardware devices 2330 comprising a set of one ormore processors or processing circuitry 2360, which may be commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitryincluding digital or analog hardware components or special purposeprocessors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 2390-1 which may benon-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 2395 orsoftware executed by processing circuitry 2360. Each hardware device maycomprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 2370, alsoknown as network interface cards, which include physical networkinterface 2380. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory,persistent, machine-readable storage media 2390-2 having stored thereinsoftware 2395 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry2360. Software 2395 may include any type of software including softwarefor instantiating one or more virtualization layers 2350 (also referredto as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 2340 as well assoftware allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefitsdescribed in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines 2340, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory,virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by acorresponding virtualization layer 2350 or hypervisor. Differentembodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 2320 may be implementedon one or more of virtual machines 2340, and the implementations may bemade in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry 2360 executes software 2395 toinstantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 2350, which maysometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM).Virtualization layer 2350 may present a virtual operating platform thatappears like networking hardware to virtual machine 2340.

As shown in FIG. 12, hardware 2330 may be a standalone network node withgeneric or specific components. Hardware 2330 may comprise antenna 23225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively,hardware 2330 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such asin a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where manyhardware nodes work together and are managed via management andorchestration (MANO) 23100, which, among others, oversees lifecyclemanagement of applications 2320.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to asnetwork function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidatemany network equipment types onto industry standard high volume serverhardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be locatedin data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine 2340 may be a softwareimplementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they wereexecuting on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtualmachines 2340, and that part of hardware 2330 that executes that virtualmachine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/orhardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtualmachines 2340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) isresponsible for handling specific network functions that run in one ormore virtual machines 2340 on top of hardware networking infrastructure2330 and corresponds to application 2320 in FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units 23200 that each include oneor more transmitters 23220 and one or more receivers 23210 may becoupled to one or more antennas 23225. Radio units 23200 may communicatedirectly with hardware nodes 2330 via one or more appropriate networkinterfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components toprovide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio accessnode or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use ofcontrol system 23230 which may alternatively be used for communicationbetween the hardware nodes 2330 and radio units 23200.

FIG. 13 illustrates a telecommunication network connected via anintermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments. In particular, with reference to FIG. 13, in accordancewith an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunicationnetwork 2410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprisesaccess network 2411, such as a radio access network, and core network2414. Access network 2411 comprises a plurality of base stations 2412 a,2412 b, 2412 c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wirelessaccess points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 2413 a, 2413b, 2413 c. Each base station 2412 a, 2412 b, 2412 c is connectable tocore network 2414 over a wired or wireless connection 2415. A first UE2491 located in coverage area 2413 c is configured to wirelessly connectto, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 2412 c. A second UE2492 in coverage area 2413 a is wirelessly connectable to thecorresponding base station 2412 a. While a plurality of UEs 2491, 2492are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equallyapplicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area orwhere a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 2412.

Telecommunication network 2410 is itself connected to host computer2430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of astandalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, oras processing resources in a server farm. Host computer 2430 may beunder the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operatedby the service provider or on behalf of the service provider.Connections 2421 and 2422 between telecommunication network 2410 andhost computer 2430 may extend directly from core network 2414 to hostcomputer 2430 or may go via an optional intermediate network 2420.Intermediate network 2420 may be one of, or a combination of more thanone of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 2420,if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular,intermediate network 2420 may comprise two or more sub-networks (notshown).

The communication system of FIG. 13 as a whole enables connectivitybetween the connected UEs 2491, 2492 and host computer 2430. Theconnectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 2450.Host computer 2430 and the connected UEs 2491, 2492 are configured tocommunicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 2450, using accessnetwork 2411, core network 2414, any intermediate network 2420 andpossible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTTconnection 2450 may be transparent in the sense that the participatingcommunication devices through which OTT connection 2450 passes areunaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example,base station 2412 may not or need not be informed about the past routingof an incoming downlink communication with data originating from hostcomputer 2430 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE2491. Similarly, base station 2412 need not be aware of the futurerouting of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 2491towards the host computer 2430.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE,base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphswill now be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 illustrateshost computer communicating via a base station with a user equipmentover a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodimentsIn communication system 2500, host computer 2510 comprises hardware 2515including communication interface 2516 configured to set up and maintaina wired or wireless connection with an interface of a differentcommunication device of communication system 2500. Host computer 2510further comprises processing circuitry 2518, which may have storageand/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 2518may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specificintegrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations ofthese (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 2510further comprises software 2511, which is stored in or accessible byhost computer 2510 and executable by processing circuitry 2518. Software2511 includes host application 2512. Host application 2512 may beoperable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 2530connecting via OTT connection 2550 terminating at UE 2530 and hostcomputer 2510. In providing the service to the remote user, hostapplication 2512 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTTconnection 2550.

Communication system 2500 further includes base station 2520 provided ina telecommunication system and comprising hardware 2525 enabling it tocommunicate with host computer 2510 and with UE 2530. Hardware 2525 mayinclude communication interface 2526 for setting up and maintaining awired or wireless connection with an interface of a differentcommunication device of communication system 2500, as well as radiointerface 2527 for setting up and maintaining at least wirelessconnection 2570 with UE 2530 located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG. 14) served by base station 2520. Communication interface 2526 maybe configured to facilitate connection 2560 to host computer 2510.Connection 2560 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (notshown in FIG. 14) of the telecommunication system and/or through one ormore intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In theembodiment shown, hardware 2525 of base station 2520 further includesprocessing circuitry 2528, which may comprise one or more programmableprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmablegate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to executeinstructions. Base station 2520 further has software 2521 storedinternally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system 2500 further includes UE 2530 already referred to.Its hardware 2535 may include radio interface 2537 configured to set upand maintain wireless connection 2570 with a base station serving acoverage area in which UE 2530 is currently located. Hardware 2535 of UE2530 further includes processing circuitry 2538, which may comprise oneor more programmable processors, application-specific integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (notshown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 2530 further comprisessoftware 2531, which is stored in or accessible by UE 2530 andexecutable by processing circuitry 2538. Software 2531 includes clientapplication 2532. Client application 2532 may be operable to provide aservice to a human or non-human user via UE 2530, with the support ofhost computer 2510. In host computer 2510, an executing host application2512 may communicate with the executing client application 2532 via OTTconnection 2550 terminating at UE 2530 and host computer 2510. Inproviding the service to the user, client application 2532 may receiverequest data from host application 2512 and provide user data inresponse to the request data. OTT connection 2550 may transfer both therequest data and the user data. Client application 2532 may interactwith the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer 2510, base station 2520 and UE 2530illustrated in FIG. 14 may be similar or identical to host computer2430, one of base stations 2412 a, 2412 b, 2412 c and one of UEs 2491,2492 of FIG. 13, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings ofthese entities may be as shown in FIG. 14 and independently, thesurrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 13.

In FIG. 14, OTT connection 2550 has been drawn abstractly to illustratethe communication between host computer 2510 and UE 2530 via basestation 2520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices andthe precise routing of messages via these devices. Networkinfrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured tohide from UE 2530 or from the service provider operating host computer2510, or both. While OTT connection 2550 is active, the networkinfrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamicallychanges the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing considerationor reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection 2570 between UE 2530 and base station 2520 is inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve theperformance of OTT services provided to UE 2530 using OTT connection2550, in which wireless connection 2570 forms the last segment.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoringdata rate, latency and other factors on which the one or moreembodiments improve. There may further be an optional networkfunctionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 2550 between hostcomputer 2510 and UE 2530, in response to variations in the measurementresults. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality forreconfiguring OTT connection 2550 may be implemented in software 2511and hardware 2515 of host computer 2510 or in software 2531 and hardware2535 of UE 2530, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may bedeployed in or in association with communication devices through whichOTT connection 2550 passes; the sensors may participate in themeasurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantitiesexemplified above, or by supplying values of other physical quantitiesfrom which software 2511, 2531 may compute or estimate the monitoredquantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 2550 may include messageformat, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; thereconfiguring need not affect base station 2520, and it may be unknownor imperceptible to base station 2520. Such procedures andfunctionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certainembodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signalingfacilitating host computer 2510's measurements of throughput,propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may beimplemented in that software 2511 and 2531 causes messages to betransmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTTconnection 2550 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 15will be included in this section. In step 2610, the host computerprovides user data. In substep 2611 (which may be optional) of step2610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a hostapplication. In step 2620, the host computer initiates a transmissioncarrying the user data to the UE. In step 2630 (which may be optional),the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried inthe transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance withthe teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.In step 2640 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a clientapplication associated with the host application executed by the hostcomputer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 16will be included in this section. In step 2710 of the method, the hostcomputer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the hostcomputer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step2720, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user datato the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordancewith the teachings of the embodiments described throughout thisdisclosure. In step 2730 (which may be optional), the UE receives theuser data carried in the transmission.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 17will be included in this section. In step 2810 (which may be optional),the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionallyor alternatively, in step 2820, the UE provides user data. In substep2821 (which may be optional) of step 2820, the UE provides the user databy executing a client application. In substep 2811 (which may beoptional) of step 2810, the UE executes a client application whichprovides the user data in reaction to the received input data providedby the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed clientapplication may further consider user input received from the user.Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided,the UE initiates, in substep 2830 (which may be optional), transmissionof the user data to the host computer. In step 2840 of the method, thehost computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 18will be included in this section. In step 2910 (which may be optional),in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. Instep 2920 (which may be optional), the base station initiatestransmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step2930 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user datacarried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefitsdisclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional unitsor modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatusmay comprise a number of these functional units. These functional unitsmay be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one ormore microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digitalhardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs),special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitrymay be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which mayinclude one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, opticalstorage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes programinstructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or datacommunications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one ormore of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, theprocessing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unitto perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according totheir ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless adifferent meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context inwhich it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus,component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referringto at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means,step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methodsdisclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact orderdisclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following orpreceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step mustfollow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, whereverappropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may applyto any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features andadvantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from thedescription.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics,electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, forexample, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules,processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices,computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks,procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and soon, as such as those that are described herein.

Some of the embodiments contemplated herein are described more fullywith reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however,are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to onlythe embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are providedby way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to thoseskilled in the art.

The following details further embodiments including, but not limited tothose enumerated below.

D1. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and

a communication interface configured to forward the user data to acellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),

wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radiointerface and processing circuitry, the base station's processingcircuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the basestation steps disclosed herein.

D2. The communication system of the pervious embodiment furtherincluding the base station.

D3. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with thebase station.

D4. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute ahost application, thereby providing the user data; and

the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a clientapplication associated with the host application.

D5. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

at the host computer, providing user data; and

at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user datato the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, whereinthe base station performs any of the steps of any of the base stationsteps disclosed herein.

D6. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at thebase station, transmitting the user data.

D7. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data isprovided at the host computer by executing a host application, themethod further comprising, at the UE, executing a client applicationassociated with the host application.

D8. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station,the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configuredto perform any of the previous 3 embodiments.

D9. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and

a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellularnetwork for transmission to a user equipment (UE),

wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, theUE's components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the UEsteps disclosed herein.

D10. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein thecellular network further includes a base station configured tocommunicate with the UE.

D11. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein:

the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute ahost application, thereby providing the user data; and

the UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a clientapplication associated with the host application.

D12. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

at the host computer, providing user data; and

at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user datato the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, whereinthe UE performs any of the steps of any of the UE steps disclosedherein.

D13. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at theUE, receiving the user data from the base station.

D14. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

communication interface configured to receive user data originating froma transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station,

wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, theUE's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of anyof the UE steps disclosed herein.

D15. The communication system of the previous embodiment, furtherincluding the UE.

D16. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radiointerface configured to communicate with the UE and a communicationinterface configured to forward to the host computer the user datacarried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.

D17. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute ahost application; and

the UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a clientapplication associated with the host application, thereby providing theuser data.

D18. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein:

the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute ahost application, thereby providing request data; and

the UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a clientapplication associated with the host application, thereby providing theuser data in response to the request data.

D19. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the basestation from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any ofthe UE steps disclosed herein.

D20. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at theUE, providing the user data to the base station.

D21. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising:

at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the userdata to be transmitted; and

at the host computer, executing a host application associated with theclient application.

D22. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising:

at the UE, executing a client application; and

at the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the inputdata being provided at the host computer by executing a host applicationassociated with the client application,

wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the clientapplication in response to the input data.

D23. A communication system including a host computer comprising acommunication interface configured to receive user data originating froma transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein thebase station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, thebase station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of thesteps of any of the base station steps disclosed herein.

D24. The communication system of the previous embodiment furtherincluding the base station.

D25. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with thebase station.

D26. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute ahost application;

the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with thehost application, thereby providing the user data to be received by thehost computer.

D27. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user dataoriginating from a transmission which the base station has received fromthe UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the UE stepsdisclosed herein.

D28. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at thebase station, receiving the user data from the UE.

D29. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at thebase station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to thehost computer.

The solution presented herein may, of course, be carried out in otherways than those specifically set forth herein without departing fromessential characteristics of the disclosed solution. The presentembodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a wireless device forreceiving signals transmitted to the wireless device by a network node,the method comprising: receiving a first signal using at least onereceiver configured according to a first transmission parameter definingfirst time and/or frequency resources for monitoring a downlink controlchannel scheduling for downlink control information included in thefirst signal, the first signal comprising: one or more secondtransmission parameters, each different from the first transmissionparameter, the one or more second transmission parameters each definingdifferent second time and/or frequency resources for monitoring thedownlink control channel scheduling for the downlink control channelincluded in one or more second signals; and a configuration indicationindicating a selection, by the network node, of the first transmissionparameter or the one or more second transmission parameters for each ofthe one or more second signals; configuring at least one receiver in thewireless device for receiving each of the one or more second signalsaccording to the first transmission parameter or the one or more secondtransmission parameters responsive to the configuration indication; andreceiving the one or more second signals using the at least one receiverconfigured responsive to the configuration indication.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein: the first transmission parameter comprises a firstcontrol resource set (CORESET) configuration; and at least one of theone or more second transmission parameters comprises a second CORESETconfiguration, different from the first CORESET configuration.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: the first transmission parameter comprises afirst search space configuration; and at least one of the one or moresecond transmission parameters comprises a second search spaceconfiguration, different from the first search space configuration. 4.The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration indication comprises aconfiguration flag set comprising one or more bits representing theselected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the configuration flag setcomprises a single bit indicative of a selection of the firsttransmission parameter or the one or more second transmission parametersfor all of the one or more second signals.
 6. The method of claim 4wherein each bit position of the configuration flag set corresponds to adifferent one of the one or more second signals.
 7. The method of claim4 wherein the one or more bits of the configuration flag set define aplurality of values indicative of the selected transmission parameterfor each of the one or more second signals.
 8. The method of claim 1wherein the configuration indication comprises an implicit configurationindication.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the implicit configurationindication comprises the omission of an explicit flag or bit to indicatethe selection of the first transmission parameter for each of the one ormore second signals.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the downlinkcontrol information included in the first signal comprises RemainingMinimum System Information (RMSI).
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein thedownlink control information included in the second signal comprises:paging information; and/or Other System Information (OSI); and/or RandomAccess Response (RAR) information.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein theone or more second transmission parameters comprises a different secondtransmission parameter for each of the one or more second signals. 13.The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more second transmissionparameters comprises one second transmission parameter for some of theone or more second signals and another different second transmissionparameter for some or all of the remaining one or more second signals.14. A wireless device configured to receive signals from a network node,the wireless device comprising one or more processing circuitsconfigured to: receive a first signal using at least one receiverconfigured according to a first transmission parameter defining firsttime and/or frequency resources for monitoring a downlink controlchannel scheduling for downlink control information included in thefirst signal, the first signal comprising: one or more secondtransmission parameters, each different from the first transmissionparameter, the one or more second transmission parameters each definingdifferent second time and/or frequency resources for monitoring thedownlink control channel scheduling for the downlink control channelincluded in one or more second signals; and a configuration indicationindicating a selection, by the network node, of the first transmissionparameter or the one or more second transmission parameters for each ofthe one or more second signals; configure at least one receiver in thewireless device for receiving each of the one or more second signalsaccording to the first transmission parameter or the one or more secondtransmission parameters responsive to the configuration indication; andreceive the one or more second signals using the at least one receiverconfigured responsive to the configuration indication.
 15. A methodperformed by a network node for signal transmission to a wirelessdevice, the method comprising: determining a first transmissionparameter defining first time and/or frequency resources fortransmission of downlink control channel scheduling downlink controlinformation in a first signal; selecting, for each of one or more secondsignals, the first transmission parameter or one or more secondtransmission parameters, each different from the first transmissionparameter, the one or more second transmission parameters definingdifferent second time and/or frequency resources for transmission of thedownlink control channel scheduling the downlink control information inthe one or more second signals; transmitting the first signal to thewireless device according to the first transmission parameter, the firstsignal comprising: the one or more second transmission parameters; and aconfiguration indication indicating the selected transmission parameterfor each of the one or more second signals; and transmitting the one ormore second signals to the wireless device according to thecorresponding selected transmission parameter.
 16. The method of claim15 wherein: the first transmission parameter comprises a first controlresource set (CORESET) configuration; and at least one of the one ormore second transmission parameters comprises a second CORESETconfiguration, different from the first CORESET configuration.
 17. Themethod of claim 15 wherein: the first transmission parameter comprises afirst search space configuration; and at least one of the one or moresecond transmission parameters comprises a second search spaceconfiguration, different from the first search space configuration. 18.The method of claim 15 wherein the configuration indication comprises aconfiguration flag set comprising one or more bits representing theselected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the configuration flag setcomprise a single bit, the method further comprising: setting the singlebit of the configuration flag set to a first value indicative of thenetwork node selecting the first transmission parameter for all of theone or more second signals; and setting the single bit of theconfiguration flag set to a second value different from the first value,the second value indicative of the network node selecting the one ormore second transmission parameters for all of the one or more secondsignals.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein each bit position of theconfiguration flag set corresponds to a different one of the one or moresecond signals.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more bitsof the configuration flag set define a plurality of values indicative ofthe selected transmission parameter for each of the one or more secondsignals.
 22. The method of claim 15 wherein the configuration indicationcomprises an implicit configuration indication.
 23. The method of claim22 wherein the implicit configuration indication comprises the omissionof an explicit flag or bit to indicate the selection of the firsttransmission parameter for each of the one or more second signals. 24.The method of claim 15 wherein the downlink control information includedin the first signal comprises Remaining Minimum System Information(RMSI).
 25. The method of claim 15 wherein the downlink controlinformation included in the second signal comprises: paging information;and/or Other System Information (OSI); and/or Random Access Response(RAR) information.
 26. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or moresecond transmission parameters comprises a different second transmissionparameter for each of the one or more second signals.
 27. The method ofclaim 15 wherein the one or more second transmission parameterscomprises one second transmission parameter for some of the one or moresecond signals and another different second transmission parameter forsome or all of the remaining one or more second signals.
 28. The methodof claim 15 wherein said selecting comprises selecting, for each of theone or more second signals, the one or more second transmissionparameters responsive to: one or more deployment parameters; and/or acurrent network load; and/or an average number of wireless devices to bepaged.
 29. A network node configured to transmit signals to a wirelessdevice, the network node comprising one or more processing circuitsconfigured to: determine a first transmission parameter defining firsttime and/or frequency resources for transmission of downlink controlchannel scheduling downlink control information in a first signal;select, for each of one or more second signals, the first transmissionparameter or one or more second transmission parameters, each differentfrom the first transmission parameter, the one or more secondtransmission parameters defining different second time and/or frequencyresources for transmission of the downlink control channel schedulingthe downlink control information in the one or more second signals;transmit the first signal to the wireless device according to the firsttransmission parameter, the first signal comprising: the one or moresecond transmission parameters; and a configuration indicationindicating the selected transmission parameter for each of the one ormore second signals; and transmit the one or more second signals to thewireless device according to the corresponding selected transmissionparameter.